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The Spirit of Prophecy Volume 2
acts than he had yet performed in healing the sick, the lame, and the
blind. The Sadducees were in opposition to the Pharisees regarding
the resurrection of the dead. The former claimed that there would
be no resurrection of the body. But Jesus tells them that one of the
greatest works of his Father is raising up the dead, and even so the
son of God has power in himself to raise from the dead. “Marvel not,”
said he, “at this; for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the
graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto
the resurrection of damnation.”
The humble Nazarene asserts his real nobility. He rises above
humanity, throws off the guise of sin and shame, and stands revealed,
the Honored of the angels, the Son of God, equal with the Creator
of the universe. The rulers of the Jews, and the listening multitude
are spell-bound before his mighty truths, and the lofty dignity of his
bearing. No man had ever spoken words like these, nor borne himself
with such a kingly majesty. His utterances were clear and plain, fully
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declaring his mission and the duty of the world. “For the Father judgeth
no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son, that all men
should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth
not the Son honoreth not the Father who hath sent him. Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that
sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The
hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the
Son of God, and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in
himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; and hath
given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of
man.”
Here Jesus throws back upon the rulers their accusations against
him, and their attempts to prescribe his work, and to judge, by their
narrow bigotry, his acts of mercy and benevolence. He declared himself
their Judge, and the Judge of all the world. When he came to earth as
the Redeemer, it was given into his hands, and all men are responsible
unto him. He took the burden of humanity that he might save men from
the consequences of their sins. He is in one their Advocate and Judge.
Having tasted the very dregs of human affliction and temptation, he is
qualified to understand the frailties and sins of men, and to pronounce